Posts tagged Xcel Energy
Scammers failing in Xcel ruse, so far
Jan 25th
Boulder police have received three complaints from local business owners who say scammers pretending to be Xcel Energy employees have targeted their businesses.
The complainants have shared similar stories with investigators that begin with a phone call claiming that the customer’s utility account is past due and is about to be disconnected within the next few hours. The victims are then told to pay the bill immediately via a wire service like Western Union or a prepaid debit card like MoneyPak. In one case, the phone scammer wanted to meet the potential victim to get the money in person.
Scammers demanding “late” payments. So far, it isn’t working.
The three businesses which were targeted received calls on Jan. 15, Jan. 17, and Jan. 20. In each case, the victims contacted police and Xcel to check that their accounts were in good standing.
So far, no one has fallen for the scheme and Boulder police would like to make sure that area residents and business owners are aware of the scam.
People should be wary of giving personal information like bank account numbers or social security numbers over the phone. It’s also a red flag if telemarketers use high-pressure tactics such as saying “you must pay now or lose your service.”
Anyone who has questions about their Xcel account may contact Xcel’s customer service center at 800-895-4999, or customerservice@xcelenergy.com.
Anyone who believes they may have been the victim of a phone scam may report it to the Boulder Police Department at 303-441-3333.
Cloud on the electric utility horizon?
Nov 18th
City requests reconsideration of state commission ruling on acquisition process for possible local electric utility
The City of Boulder this afternoon asked the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to reconsider an Oct. 29 decision that would delay the city’s efforts to acquire Xcel Energy’s equipment and facilities for the purpose of creating a local electric utility.
The application for rehearing makes clear that Boulder concurs with many of the findings the PUC made on Oct. 29. The city remains 100 percent committed, for example, to working with the PUC on issues that are within the Commission’s jurisdiction and making sure that Boulder’s efforts do not negatively impact service or reliability for Xcel’s remaining customers.
Modern electric turbine
However, there are some issues with which the city does not agree. In its filing today, the city asserts that the Commission transcended the questions it was asked to consider and issued an overly broad ruling that overlooked the powers granted to the city by the constitution. More specifically, the city argues that there are practical and legal reasons for the Commission to reconsider its conclusion that it has the authority to decide what assets Boulder can acquire. The city also explains more fully why it would be premature for the Commission to evaluate any transition plans until a condemnation proceeding has been initiated and discovery has been completed by the city.
“Boulder has no objection to, and in fact is eager to work with Commission staff to prepare the various plans necessary to make Boulder’s acquisition of the Public Service (Xcel) system that serves Boulder as cost-effective as possible, and to ensure that the electric system, both inside and outside of Boulder, is at least as safe and reliable as the current Public Service system,” Senior Assistant City Attorney Deb Kalish said in the filing. “However, Boulder has the constitutional and statutory right to determine which assets it will acquire and the timing of any condemnation action that may be filed.”
Heather Bailey, the city’s executive director for Energy Strategy and Electric Utility Development, said Monday that the PUC’s ruling with regard to these questions could have important implications.
“Boulder voters on Nov. 5 reaffirmed their desire to move forward with the creation of a local electric utility, provided that certain conditions can be met,” Bailey said. “Determining the order of the required proceedings – and the scope of authority for each deciding body – is essential to charting out both the timeline and necessary work plan for moving forward. We are hopeful that the PUC will consider the city’s arguments and help us gain clarity around these questions in a way that is consistent with Colorado law. We look forward to working with PUC staff and commissioners to address any concerns they have.”
The complete filing is attached to this press release.
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Boulder’s energy future is brighter
Nov 6th
Municipalization ballot measure 2E passing by significant margin, 310 failing
City outlines implications for possible creation of electric utility
City outlines implications for possible creation of electric utility
While some votes remain to be counted tonight, ballot measure 2E appears headed for a significant victory with a competing ballot measure 310 poised for defeat.
The approval of measure 2E, pending final results, will give the city flexibility in moving forward with the initial 2011 voter-approved path toward exploring the creation of a local electric utility while also recognizing concerns about unforeseen costs and customer representation. Specifically, measure 2E puts a limit on the amount the city can pay to acquire the system and clarifies some out-of-city service issues. The ballot measure includes the following:
- Setting a limit of $214 million for acquisition of Xcel’s assets and stranded costs, if stranded costs are paid in one lump sum.
- Allowing out-of-city customers, if any are included, to serve on the advisory board of a potential local electric utility.
- Facilitating utility choice on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis to potential out-of-city customers.
- Requiring rates of out-of-city customers to be the same as those in the same class of in-city customers.
- Limiting brokerage fees associated with acquiring debt to industry standards.
These requirements are in addition to criteria passed by voters as part of the Charter in 2011. These are:
- Rates must be equal or less than those offered by Xcel Energy at the time of acquisition.
- The utility must have sufficient revenue to cover operating costs and debt, plus carry a reserve of 25 percent of the debt amount, referred to as “Debt Service Coverage Ratio.”
- Reliability must remain comparable to that being offered by Xcel Energy.
- There must be a plan to increase renewable energy in the supply.
- There must be a plan to decrease greenhouse gas emissions that result from a fossil-fuel based electricity supply.
The original 2011 voter-approved Charter language on municipalization can be found at –http://www.colocode.com/boulder2/charter_articleXIII.htm. The provisions in 2E will be added to the existing Charter requirements.
“We are pleased with the results of today’s election concerning the municipalization ballot items,” said Heather Bailey, executive director of energy strategy and electric utility development. “The additional requirements set by 2E will address concerns about the unknown amounts of acquisition and stranded costs associated with forming a local utility and help define the path the community would like us to take towards creating the electric utility of the future right here in Boulder.”
The next steps in the municipalization exploration study will focus on the negotiation and acquisition process associated with obtaining the infrastructure the city would need to operate a safe and reliable local electric utility.
All information related to Boulder’s Energy Future and the municipalization study is available atwww.BoulderEnergyFuture.com.
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